Category Archives: Inspirational One of Rich’s famous sayings in our home is, “Just glue it back together…” Yep, with four little ones six years old and younger–and three of those being boys…things just seem to get broken a lot. Last night, one of our other family members “Stuffed Tiger” (yes, my kids give their stuffed animals very creative […]  Do you ever have those “wow moments” that you never want to forget? Time seems to stand still–and you feel the Lord’s presence in the middle of it. That happened to me this morning–and you all KNOW what this momma does when that happens. I write. I want to remember these moments. I want my […] Beautiful day for you and thank you for sharing. I can truly relate to your story. I can “see it all” as I have had my years of therapy experiences with my son too when he was of toddler years. There is a “waiting room” bond that happens among the parents whose children are in therapy together – memories and stories I will never forget. And the streaming of tears when our therapist “graduated” our son. God’s hand through it all and I am thankful for that history. Blessings to you, Andrea, as you continue to walk your journey of love for your son, and for all the children and parents you will meet in therapy. wow wow wow … thanks so much for sharing this with us! Beautiful post!!! thank you!!!!! There are no words…that was beautiful. I caught the title of your post from another blog and needed to read it as I am tired of running…in my case, fundraising…for our adoption. Thank you for the pick-me-up-keep-your-eyes-on-your-provider post! Oh, thank you. I needed to read this today, as I feel as if I have reached my end. I have felt like I cannot persevere one more day as we wait and wait and wait for a call saying we finally have a court date for our sweet special needs boy in Ethiopia. I was so encouraged by this story, to know that this hard thing is worth fighting through and persevering, that God has not forgotten my family, He has not forgotten our beautiful boy a world a way. I also am so thrilled to read of Isaac’s progress. It gives me hope for my own boy. God really does have a loving hand on these precious children. I can’t make my words make sense. I just want you to know that this post touched me, encouraged me, and lovingly chastised me. Thank you Andrea. Thank you for sharing this Andrea! I too remember the exact spot I was standing….everything abou that day down to what I was wearing..when my mom called and told me my little brother was walking. He too has CP…and he was 9 years old. 9. When he turned 6, the doctors and therapists told my parents to buy a wheelchair and quit working with him. They pressed on, and one winter day when he was 9…..they had the joy of proclaiming to anyone who would listen that Stephen can walk! Oh, what a beautiful post! Thank you for taking the time to write down that story. Tears! Thank you for sharing this “God moment” with us, Andrea. What a beautiful picture of the heart of a father, and of our Father. This was so encouraging to read…what an amazing reminder to remain hopeful despite the sometimes seemingly endless barriers that appear to hold us back from doing what He has called us to! As someone who has worked through a good bit of physical therapy, I can appreciate the hard work these precious young ones put into it. It hurts and it’s never easy and what a testimony and encouragement to someone like me they are. What a sweet, sweet story. You most certainly brought tears to my eyes today. Thanks for sharing. you constantly do it – amazing how you put my heart into words! I needed that today – the reminder about hope and concentrating of the positive – some days that negative can become overwhelming. Praise God for our children’s perseverance through it all, and for the hope that He gives to our mommas hearts. Praying for you all (and through the night:) I drove my little foster baby boy to his family meeting today. Tearful, hard. But the whole time I was thinking that God is With Us! Amazing peace. I was trying to put words to what this process is like and you have uttered them here. All I can say is, for 27 years I have missed the amazing repetitive nature of God’s word saying, draw near to the orphan and the oppressed and God will draw near to you. Missed it because it definitely seemed too hard. Now I know, the alternative-ignoring the orphan and the oppressed was actually far harder. I did not walk closely with God by faith until I drew near to the orphan. He knew and praise His name, He led my family here! Thank you so much for this beautiful post! Wow, I needed it today and will definitely revisit it again when times are challenging. Thank you for reminding us to focus on the hope and promises of God rather than the diagnosis, hurdles, and delays. Thanks for being a vessel for God’s truth to touch many hearts! So sweet…tears flowing. Inspiring…truly. Such a beautiful story, Andrea! Thanks for sharing! Love this. After everything we’ve been through with Nathan…the ups and downs…I never get tired of stories like this because I GET it. The ups make the downs worth it! Blessings! What a beautiful story… I could just feel that fathers love for his daughter through your words- THANK YOU for sharing, and THANK YOU moreover for sharing your heart- in more ways then you’ll ever know! Andrea, It’s like you spoke the words of my heart for my son…. if only the world appreciated his effort to overcome his world of autism.. if only he were chosen by kids his age… if only they knew how far he’s come… if only people knew how lonely this world of special needs is… WOW!! I really NEEDED this, “to tune out the world and perservere”! If only the kids could look back in time and see how hard Toby tries to be “normal” He’s MY WINNER!! THanks so much!  Sunday was SUCH a sweet day for our family!!! It was Isaac and Frank’s baby dedication TOGETHER!!! Our church recently changed the baby dedications from having them in service (where we could invite all our friends and family) to having them in BIG event where all the families dedicate their babies all at once. We […] I totally agree with the baptism celebrations! I felt the same way about making that day so special every year! When my son was baptized, we sent out “birth” announcements, just like we did when he was born and had a big birthday cake and celebration with all our friends and family. Last year, for the one year anniversary, we had another cake and celebration. I want them to know that that day is the most important day of their life! And we got so many letters to him on that day the next year encouraging him on that journey- so sweet! I love your blog and have been praying for your family! Keep up the good work! beautiful.. love your blog..we are still in the paperchase process and i love your heart for god, family and crafts..can you explain how you did the banners.. would love to make some for gifts.. thanks so much!! what an incredibly beautiful service. i LOVE that you did it this way and that boy of your boys were dedicated together. i was jazzed about frankie being in the movie, but this is WAY cooler!!!! the verses on the burlap are visually stunning and so powerful to literally have them hanging in the doorframes. i am so not crafty, but i would love to try something like that. you will always remember that day. Jewel,that is what I think of when I think of the YOUNG family…Honestly,Andrea you make moments “Holy” …your whole family is teaching as they go….blessings and Pax,Marci oh such a very special day! thanks for sharing it with all of us! What a beautiful, beautiful day. I LOVE the idea of an at home dedication. I wish things like that were more common this life. I also LOVED the scripture verses printed and hanging. If you don’t mind having someone copy, I’ll be trying to make some for our family! I am also going to link to you. Hope that is OK. 🙂  -I love that…”fight to the finish”…that is how the Message version of the Bible titles the second paragraph of Ephesians 6. One thing that used to really freak me out before I was a believer and in my first days as a believer was reading anything about the devil or spiritual warfare. Didn’t get it…the […] Beautiful. The writing, the photos, Frank’s kiss, the babies, the momma’s … all of it is just beautiful!! Praising God for YOU! So true! My life used to be so safe and comfy… but I felt like something was missing. When I stepped out and started trusting my Lord, my life became healed and exciting to live. My world is so chaotic right now but all I feel is HIS peace! Great words Andrea, those scriptures have helped me through time and again when I have faced various trials. I agree with what you wrote and i just loved the pics like always! I was just talking to someone last night about what a spiritual battle adoption and orphan care seem to be. I have never experienced the like. You worded both sides so well – both the messy work of satan and the overwhelming love and grace and victory that comes from the Lord. Thanks for going there and talking about the unseen. Praying for you in the midst of thei fight. lifting you all up today. THanks for the reminder and encouragement – needed that! WHAT an encouragement it was to spend time with you and your family last weekend! Even though your voice only lasted for five minutes 🙂 your lives have ministered to us a great deal! You are always such an encouragement just when I need it. 🙂 So happy to see your family so full! ♥ 17 months of praying & waiting. I needed Galatians today. Thank you!  Registration is on like Donkey Kong…I kid-you-not…we just put up the registration site–and we already have 35 registered in just a few hours!!! SO…spread the news—share the excitement…adoption mommies are getting together for a weekend in February to be inspired, to be encouraged and to relax and be restored…TOGETHER! Oh yes…we’ve prayed one another through […] quick question…do we pay the full amount to register or just a part of it? :0) I just registered!! YAY!! Cannot wait!!! 🙂 Just registered!!!! Soooo excited! I wish I lived closer, that sounds amazing:) I want to go sooooo bad!!! Trying to work it out 🙂 I can’t wait. It is going to be so much fun. Have you warned the lodge how loud we can be? Amy! Are you going?!?!? I cannot wait to meet you! Can you do a post on how the t-shirts run, if you know any more info on them? Would love to get them and wondering if they are unisex, preshrunk, etc. THanks! 🙂 So I have been reading your blog for months, and one of my other blog friends posted something about the retreat. So I very joking sent a link about it to my sister-in-law saying “In my dream world we would get to go to this retreat together.. would it be wonderful?”. So her and my mother-in-law actually got online and registered us for the retreat…surprise! I cried and was blown away, because I was totally joking! This is a huuuuuge blessing for me, so thanks for all you are doing for the retreat. I am waiting for our baby from Ethiopia and now I get to go on this retreat with the women in my family.. I have never felt so loved in excited, I really needed this blessing this week! THANK YOU THANK YOU! -Kerry I am a mom to 12 children, 10 through adoption. This is my heartbeat and I love to meet others who share in this journey of love. In HIS Grace, Teresa Rima. |
|
by admin
Thank you for this perfect reminder of what God does with our brokenness.
No words… just tears and a thankful heart….
Oh my word, you know I’m shedding some tears reading this post. With my own dear “Joseph” in Uganda this week completing our adoption and becoming a father to the fatherless, this one really hit home. So beautiful. I can’t wait to send to Dan over in UG.
Beautifully written, Andrea.
I love your heart, Andrea – thanks for sharing it. What a beautiful, beautiful post!
So sweet, Andrea! Merry Christmas to ya’ll!!!
We reviewed these same words from Matthew tonight in our church service and it never really hit me until I was in service tonight what Joseph gave up and did. Usually we focus on what Mary did. But can you imagine how broken (like you say) he was? What other people thought and how bad that hurt him? It’s ironic to see this post you wrote, but I know it’s the Lord’s hand just reinforcing this thought, this lesson that we need to remeber, always!
WOW!!!! THANK YOU!!! What a wonderful post!!!
Perfect read for this CHristmas Eve. Thanks for sharing your heart/ God’s heart. Have a blessed day tomorrow!
i loved this. so glad God showed you this through what happened and so glad you shared it with us! Merry Christmas
WOW – this was incredible and such powerful words. You should get this published in the MOPS magazine or somewhere similar next year. More people need to hear this message – it is incredible! Merry Christmas to you and your amazing family!
So funny that you posted this….the Lord and I had a similar “conversation” just the other day. 🙂 Thank you for posting.
Thank you, Andrea! I needed to hear this message today. Beautiful words. Simply beautiful.
[…] year, I spent some time studying the journey of the Magi, and just like my recent post on Joseph (a must read on his perspective if you missed it…if you only read one blog entry from me this […]